Kentucky Derby joins with three new sponsors

Kentucky Derby joins with three new

sponsors

Churchill Downs Racetrack on Wednesday announced three new partners for the

upcoming $2 million-guaranteed Kentucky Derby, the historic track's signature

race and one of the country's major sports and entertainment events.

Under the new partnership agreements, Moët & Chandon Champagne, one of the

world's most iconic brands, will introduce the all new "Moët & Chandon Toast to

the Kentucky Derby" which will take place during the festivities preceding the

running of the race. Moët, the author of iconic celebratory traditions such as

champagne sabering, the champagne pyramid and the champagne spray, will continue

the celebratory tradition at Churchill Downs with a toast as fans raise their

glasses to the Kentucky Derby.

BLUE04, the first and completely natural oxygenated enhanced water, will

infuse a creative theme into the Kentucky Derby "Blue Room" (formerly known as

the "Green Room"), where celebrities will refresh themselves after walking the

Red Carpet.

SandRidge Energy is the presenting sponsor of the celebratory "Kentucky Derby

Winner's Party" immediately following the race. This invitation only event is

the finale of the historic race day as the winning owner, trainer, jockey and

government officials gather to toast another successful running of the Kentucky

Derby.

"Churchill Downs is very pleased to welcome these brands into our stable of

fine sponsors," said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack. "Our

partnerships make it possible for us to continue to extend and refine the many

exciting events that surround the Kentucky Derby, a great American tradition and

a springtime weekend-long sports party known and loved around the world."

The Kentucky Derby, scheduled for Saturday, May 5, is a 1 1/4-mile classic

for three-year old Thoroughbreds and the first leg of the prestigious and

popular Triple Crown series. A record 164,858 fans attended the Derby last year

and an additional 14.5 million viewed it on NBC Sports.

"Moët & Chandon is pleased to be entering its inaugural year as partner of

the Kentucky Derby," said Ludovic du Plessis, vice president of Moët & Chandon

USA. "It is with great pride that we look forward to starting a new tradition

with the 'Moët & Chandon Toast to the Kentucky Derby.'"

"We are honored to be a part of the 138th Kentucky Derby and see this as a

great opportunity to build the BLUE04 brand," said Dave Hardat, Managing

Partner, BLUE04. "Hydration is critical to peak athletic performance and what

better place to showcase the benefits of hydrating with BLUE04 than the greatest

two minutes in sports."

"SandRidge Energy is proud to partner with a storied American tradition like

the Kentucky Derby," said Greg Dewey, vice president of Communications. "The

Derby has long stood as a symbol of hard work, determination and performance,

all things that we hold dear at SandRidge."